If you are starting to gain interest in solar power, you are in the right place. After going through this beginner’s guide, you will be more knowledgeable about this source of energy compared to almost all Australians.

You will also not be easily deceived by solar system salesmen and gain more confidence that the price you are paying for a home solar system installation is fair. Here are some of the key things to know about solar power:

Know the 3 Main Elements When Installing a Solar System

The panels, investors, and racking or mounting are the 3 main components that make up the installation process.

First is the panels. These can be either monocrystalline or polycrystalline for solar systems used at homes. You can also opt for cast mono which is a hybrid of the two. It is not important what kind of panel you get. That is because both work well in the climate Australia has.

What you need to make sure is that it’s from a reputable brand and can last for more than 25 years when installed on your roof.

The second important component is the inverter. You can get a string inverter or microinverters. The former has almost the same size as a briefcase while the latter has almost the same size as a paperback book. Even though microinverters are more expensive, you can get more benefits in the long run.

The last one is racking or mounting. This is what you will use to attach your roof supports securely. Moreover, this is where your solar panels are positioned.

Before Getting a Solar System Installed, Check the Electricity Consumption in Your Home and the Time of Usage

Solar energy produced by the panels will be first utilized by your home appliances together with excess solar energy coming from the grid. It is recommended to utilize solar energy produced by your solar system rather than exporting it. Your solar energy is roughly twice or thrice more valuable than solar energy that is exported.

Moreover, you should avoid solar energy installers that base your payback entirely on your consumption since no one entirely has his own consumption in general. Therefore, these installers could be trying to deceive you.

The Number of Solar Panels You Should Purchase

This is an important consideration because solar installation fees have decreased, electricity has become more expensive, and feed-in tariffs, which are the extra electricity generated from exporting that you pay, have become more expensive as well.

The size of your roof, the allowed DNSP or Distributed Network Service Provider for installation, and your budget are your limitations. As for the number of panels, the least you should consider is about 20 6.6kW panels that have a 5kW inverter.

You should also consider the season. During overcast or winter days, there is a limit to the energy generated. Therefore, if you have the chance, it will be better to have more panels.

After installing your first panels, it is more complex and pricier to add more. Nevertheless, during the first quote, the addition of solar panels can be inexpensive.